A/N: Yeah, I got nothing to say. 'Cept a small warning to those of you who don't like Dark/Malon fluff, 'cause there's some mushy stuff in this chapter (Personally, I think it's really sweet, but hey, you can't please everybody). And now to respond to my lovely reviewers!
Oni-Gil - I'm glad Dark's not afraid of water anymore too. Also, the snake-thingy is an Elemental, but I wasn't sure how to explain that in the story. Once I figure it out, I'll put it in.
blondie91 - thank you! I'm glad you liked it so much!
Steeple333 – I'm glad you liked it. Don't worry, the lost phobia will make sense when you read this chapter.
Ri2 – The kid's father is the one who found the Ocarina.
EvilRobotZombieLoofaOverlord – I'm glad to hear that you like my interpretation of Dark! And Link isn't being a jackass, he just doesn't trust Dark. At all.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the 8th and final chapter of Dark Link's Legacy!
Chapter 8: The Journey EndsDark made his way for the second time through the Lost Woods, searching for the wise old owl, Kaepora Gaebora. It was quiet, as it always was at night, and seemed strange and daunting to Dark, who was just getting used to not being able to see in the dark anymore. The shadows shifted and branches creaked all around him, and a cool wind blew through the trees, making him shiver. Being Hylian sure has its disadvantages, he thought, pulling his cloak tighter about him. That was the conclusion that he had come to: he'd somehow, impossibly, turned into a Hylian. He wondered if it had anything to do with the immaculate aura of the Spiritual Stones in his pack, since it wasn't until he obtained the Goron's Ruby that he began to feel different. He knew that the Goddesses had something to do with it, and with him and his quest, and he hoped it was for better and not for worse.
He had trekked all the way to the Sacred Forest Meadow, and still had found no sign of the owl. He shuffled wearily up the steps to the Forest Temple, and then looked around the empty clearing in resignation, stopping to rub his eyes. How long had it been since he last slept? He hadn't needed to sleep before, and he was finding more and more things about being Hylian that were highly inconvenient. He looked back toward the Lost Woods and sighed. "Where is that bird?"
" 'That bird' is right behind you," replied a familiar voice. Dark spun around and looked up, and there was the owl, sitting on the limb of the tree like when Dark first saw him. It cocked its head, studying him. "So, you've done it. You've become more than the shadow of a hero. You've become a real person, your own person, just like you always knew you were.
"However, it was not the power of the Spiritual Stones that transformed you, as you may assume. It was the tasks you completed in order to obtain them, tasks that proved your wisdom, your power, and your courage." It was then that Dark knew the owl had seen everything, and knew that he carried the Ocarina of Time in his pack. He felt like he was made of glass, and the owl could see right through him. "These tasks were chosen by fate to test you, and you were victorious. So I will keep up my end of our bargain." The owl swooped down from its perch and dropped something into Dark's hands, then flew off, calling, "Seek thy path, fulfill thy destiny!"
Dark looked after the owl as it disappeared into the shadows, then opened his hands. Just as he'd guessed, the Kokiri Emerald gleamed up at him, the ray of the stars and the moon glinting of its multi-faceted surface. His heart raced as he took off his pack and opened it, setting the Emerald next to the other two stones. He looked at the three artifacts side-by-side in his pack, three hard-earned treasures that would lead him to his final goal, and he was filled with excitement and pride. He felt almost dizzy from the wave of emotions, but he couldn't pull his eyes away.
He began to go over the plan in his head: He'd gotten the stones, so now he'd just slip into the Temple of Time and open the portal to the Shadow Realm. Then he'd find a weapon somewhere, find Ganondorf, then kill him in a way that would make it easy for Dark, but Ganondorf would know it was him. The perfect revenge. His mind raced as he tied his pack shut and slung over his shoulder, then hurried out of the Woods and back to where Shadowmane was waiting for him. "This is it, pal," he said to his horse, stroking its neck. "The big finish. Ganon's going down." With an enthusiastic "Yah!" he spurred his horse into action and set off toward the castle.
As he rode, the looming silhouette of Lon Lon Ranch appeared above the horizon. At once, Dark was reminded of Malon, and his heart skipped a beat as her bright cheerful face appeared in his mind. He wanted to see her, to speak to her one last time before he put his life on the line, but he didn't know if she'd recognize him as he was. He finally decided to go, if only to be in her presence, and perhaps to say good-bye. He turned Shadowmane around and headed for the Ranch, his heart heavy and light at the same time.
When he arrived, he dismounted and headed for the stables, remembering what she had once told him. She'd said that she preferred to sleep with the horses because it gave her a better understanding of them, and it gave them a bond. "Besides," she'd add, "if I slept in the house, my dad would keep me awake with his snoring!" Dark had laughed at that, and it had been the first time he'd ever laughed at a joke.
Dark slid the door of the stables open, very gently so that he wouldn't wake her, and slipped inside. She was there, sleeping soundly on a cot near the horse stalls. There was a small stool near the cot, on which rested a lit candle, and Dark moved the candle and sat down, content to watch her sleep. The flickering light made her face look soft and radiant, and to Dark it seemed that she was actually an angel, and not a simple farm girl. He stared at his feet, feeling that he should say something but unsure what to say, then he began to speak, very softly so that he would not wake her up.
"Malon, this is kind of awkward for me, but I think you should know how I feel about you. From the first day I met you, I knew you were special. You didn't judge me by how I looked like the others. You didn't even mention him." He was referring to Link. "You trusted me, and in a single moment, I knew that there was something else other than hate in the world. I looked into your eyes and saw something I didn't understand, the trust of a friend. When I came back the next day, I was scared to death that you weren't any different after all, and you would push me away like everyone else. But I was wrong.
"You were actually happy to see me. And at the end of the day, when we embraced in the light of the setting sun… I felt something that I've never felt before. I felt like I could grow wings and soar up past the clouds and the stars, and never come down." He looked at her, studying her face. "Seeing you sleeping there, my heart is torn in half. I wish I could stay with you forever, but I've come so far to accomplish my goal, and I can't turn from my path now that I've almost reached the end. So I've come to say good-bye." He reached down and gently moved a lock of red hair away from her face. "Farewell, Malon," he said sadly, and then began to rise and head for the door.
He was stopped, however, as he felt someone take hold of his wrist. He looked down to see Malon gazing up at him from the cot. She had an odd look on her face: she was smiling, but her eyes were watery. "It is true, what you said?" she asked him.
He sat back down. "Yes, all of it," he replied, honestly and from the bottom of his heart. "You heard me?"
"I woke up went you opened the door," she said, smiling. "I'm a light sleeper. I thought it was mister Ingo, and I pretended to be asleep." She looked at him oddly. "Why did you say good-bye? Are you going somewhere?"
Dark took a moment to think before answering. Should he tell her? It would be a relief to tell someone, and besides, she trusted him, so why should he not trust her? "Well, it's like this…" he proceeded to explain to her all that had happened during the past few days, and what he planned to do next. "Only, I'm not so sure it's about revenge anymore," he finished. "I'm still mad at Ganondorf, and I still need to kill him, but I feel different about it somehow, like I'm proving something to myself."
Malon had listened intently the whole time he spoke, and when he finished, she looked at him thoughtfully. "So, this is how he sees you," she said after a pause.
"Who?"
"Your horse, Shadowmane. I know it sounds silly, but I think that horses don't see people the way we do. I think they see them how they are on the inside. Now I can see why Shadowmane liked you." They sat together in silence for a moment, each in their own thoughts. Then Malon put her hand under her pillow and pulled out a small piece of cloth. She gave it to Dark, who looked at it, tracing the embroidered flowers along the edge and studying the prancing horse stitched into the middle.
"What is it?" he asked, eyes wide in wonder at the fine craftsmanship.
"It was my mother's," explained Malon. "She gave it to me before she passed away, and now I'm giving it to you. Think of it as a lady's favor." Dark looked at her, speechless, and then saw that she was looking back at him. They looked into each other's eyes. They leaned in at the same time, and their lips met. Dark felt his blood grow warm throughout his whole body, and a tingling sensation ran down his spine. His first kiss lasted almost a minute, just the two of them in a world of their own.
They both drew away at the same time, and Dark felt his face grow hot. Malon rested her head on his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. She fell asleep in his arms, and when he was sure he wouldn't wake her up, he gently laid her back down on her cot and covered her with the blanket. He stood up and placed the candle back on the stool, then slipped out of the stables and into the failing night.
Dawn was breaking, and Dark reached the castle just as they lowered the drawbridge. The guards didn't recognize him as he rode by on horseback, only tipped their helmets to him and murmured a sleepy, "Morning, sir." He nodded back, passing through into the marketplace feeling relieved. He hadn't come to pick fights with the guards.
He rode through the awakening marketplace and up the stairs to the Temple of Time, dismounting at the door as he had previously and slipping inside. The Temple was the same as the last time he'd come, but he saw it in a new light as he made his way to the altar. He could now appreciate its magnificence, its old-style gothic beauty, and the eerie way his footsteps echoed off its immense stone walls. He reached the alter and got out the three Spiritual Stones, placing them one after the other in their correct spots. Then he pulled out his Ocarina and played the Song of Time, a melody that was both beautiful and haunting. As the last strains of the song faded into the recesses of the Temple, Dark closed his eyes and tensed up. What if this wasn't the right ocarina after all? What if it didn't work?
Then he heard the harsh grinding of stone on stone, and looked up to see that the triforce symbol above the door was glowing with a golden light, and the Door of Time was slowly sliding open. Dark expected to see a portal to he Shadow Realm open before his very eyes, but instead, he saw that beyond the Door was another chamber. It was too dark to see into it very well, so he hurried forward and passed through the doors. A single beam of light fell from a window high in the wall, casting a pale morning haze over the ascending dais in the middle of the room. As Dark let his eyes adjust to the change of light, his stomach twisted in despair as he discovered an enormous hole in his plan. He had forgotten the most crucial part of all; he had forgotten about the Master Sword.
The legendary blade sat in its pedestal atop the dais, seeming to glow in the morning light. Dark walked up the dais and stood next to it, thinking, How could I have forgotten? He knew the legend of the Master Sword. It was the final key to accessing the Sacred Realm, which was now the Shadow Realm, and only the Hero of Time hold pull it from his pedestal. And he wasn't the Hero of Time. Link was.
Dark sank onto the step, hanging his head in exhaustion. How could this happen? He'd traveled all over Hyrule, faced fear, prejudice and death, only to fail because he wasn't Link. He looked at the Ocarina of Time that he still held in his hands, the same Ocarina that had helped save Hyrule in another time, and was suddenly inspired. He began to think to himself, working it out in his head: Hang on. Link wasn't the Hero of Time until he pulled the sword out of the pedestal and woke up seven years later. After he beat Ganondorf, he was sent back in time to when he was a kid, and put he put the sword back, so he must've not been the Hero of Time anymore. Which means… He stood up. I've still got a chance! He turned to face the sword, and reached out for it. He paused, hesitant, then wrapped his fingers around the handle. He held his breath and pulled.
At once, a bright light shone all around him, but it was swiftly replaced by an overwhelming darkness. A cold blast hit Dark, chilling him to the bone. He raised his hand to shield his face, and his heart skipped a beat as he realized that he was holding the Master Sword. He'd done it! He'd opened the portal into the Shadow Realm! He stared at the blade in his hand, seeing his reflection in the same blade that had once taken his life. Then he looked around, and was even more shocked by what he saw.
The Shadow Realm looked exactly the same as the Hyrule Dark had just left, only everything was in shadow. The Temple of Time around him had been destroyed, and He could see past the ruins to the demolished Marketplace beyond. It looked exactly as it had when Ganondorf had control of Hyrule, only much worse. In the distance, Dark could even see Ganon's tower, a charred structure complete with spires that pierced the sky, glowing red in the light of the lava below, just as it had been in Hyrule. Dark gripped the handle of the Master Sword in fierce resolve and set off towards Ganondorf's lair, readying himself for the battle of a lifetime.
He passed through the demolished marketplace, not looking to either side or stopping to examine the piles of bones that lay strewn about the cobblestones. He had a strange feeling, as if this place had never been meant for mortals and wasn't happy about him trespassing. He felt eyes following him, peering out from the depths of the shadows, but paid them no heed. He continued on up the path to the citadel, and then stood at the edge of the lava pool, looking for a way to cross to the tower. Link had gotten help from the Sages, who built a rainbow bridge for him to cross, but Dark didn't have that convenience at his disposal, and his hook wouldn't reach that far.
His problem was solved as he was suddenly blasted from behind. He writhed in pain where he stood as the energy ripped through him, and heard harsh laughter behind him. He turned around, and there was Ganondorf himself, charging up another ball of energy and laughing maniacally. The fiend shot the ball at Dark, who ducked in time to avoid it. Ganon then drew his own sword and leapt to the attack.
Their swords crashed together with a "clang!" and Ganondorf began to overwhelm Dark with his superior strength. Dark ducked to the side and freed his sword, then struck at Ganon's vulnerable side. He plunged his sword deep into his adversary, getting him right below his rib cage. Ganon let out an unearthly scream as a gray mist erupted from the wound, and Dark pulled the sword out of him, knowing something wasn't right. "You aren't Ganondorf!" he growled, kicking the imposter over. He reached down and pulled off the thing's mask, and it revealed the horrible, grotesque face of a ghost.
Phantom Ganon looked up at him, starting to laugh its sick laugh once more. "Look who it is," it said in a hissing voice. "Once a traitor, always a traitor, eh? First you turn your back on your own creator, then you aid him in destroying those who trusted you!"
"What are you talking about?" yelled Dark, placing the tip of the Master Sword at the base of the ghost's neck. "Tell me, or I'll relieve you of your head!"
The monster's laughter became even more raucous. "Oh, it's just too delicious!" it cried. "You don't have any idea what's going on, do you?" It's laughter grew louder, but suddenly stopped when Dark drove his sword a short ways into its neck. It only gurgled, and then said, "You will suffer now that you've opened the portal to Hyrule! The great Ganondorf will make sure that you are a witness when he establishes his kingdom!"
"No, damn it!" Dark shoved his sword the rest of the way into the phantom's throat, killing it instantly, then withdrew it and ran back to demolished Temple of Time. He could see the portal, like a window into another realm, and could see Hyrule beyond. Dark clouds were gathering, and the marketplace was in flames. A sea of monsters was headed toward the castle, bearing torches and crude weapons. Dark uttered a particularly foul curse, and then jumped through the portal.
He had a sicken sensation, almost like he was falling, and then his feet struck the stone dais of the Temple of Time. A few monster corpses were strewn about, having been trampled to death by the crowd, and villagers were screaming in terror. What have I done? thought Dark in horror. He whistled for Shadowmane, who cantered up out of the shelter of a neighboring thicket of trees, and swung himself up into the saddle without stopping his horse. Keeping to the high ground, he rode past the mob of monsters, taking out the ones he could with his bow as he headed for the castle, where he knew his foe would be.
He rode through the broken-down gates and into the keep, trampling anything that got in his way. He urged Shadowmane on through the halls of the castle, following the trail of scorch marks and destruction left by Ganondorf and his minions. It lead him to the throne room, and Shadowmane burst in just in time for Dark to see Ganondorf punch Link in the face, blood squirting from his nose as he crumpled to the floor. Zelda was looking on in horror, unable to help him because two Moblins had her in their grasp.
Dark drew an arrow and shot it at Ganondorf's head. It missed and thudded into the wall behind him, and the evil king looked at Dark with a smirk. "You don't know when to die, do you?" the madman asked him, and then fired an energy ball at him. Dark didn't have time to get his sword out and reflect the attack, and was knocked off his horse with the force of the blast. He gritted his teeth as the pain burned inside him, much more potent than Phantom Ganon's attack had been. Shadowmane ran into the corner of the room, too afraid to be any closer to Ganondorf, who walked over to Dark and lifted him off the ground by his neck. "You're a great disappointment to me, do you know that?" he said as Dark fought for air. "I'm surprised that you aren't smart enough to figure out that I know everything that goes on in this world. I have plenty of spies that weren't sealed into the Shadow Realm with me, you know. As soon as I learned you were going to try and find me, I immediately assembled my army. I'm not sure how you opened a portal, but it was a very stupid thing to do. I still possess the Triforce of Power, and there's no way you would ever have defeated me. The only person who could possibly have been a threat to me is the Hero of Time, and guess where he is now?" Ganondorf pointed to Link, who seemed to be having trouble getting up.
Dark was swiftly running out of breath, but he still managed to shake his head and smile "You're wrong," he said, his voice hoarse. He grew the Master Sword and held it so that it was right in front of Ganondorf's face. "He's right here!" He watched his adversary's eyes grow wide, and then lashed out, cutting him across the face. Ganondorf cursed and dropped Dark, who rolled to one side, coughing and trying to get his breath back. Ganondorf unsheathed his sword, and the two become locked in a deadly battle. Dark had to move quickly to make up for his inferior strength, avoiding his foes attacks rather than blocking them and quickly taking advantage of the moments where Ganon left himself wide open.
One of his slashes left a nasty gash in the evil king's side, but left him open to attack. He took a blast full in the face for it, and staggered back into a wall. He stayed there, immobilized by the blast, and Ganon came up and stood right in front of him, sneering at him triumphantly. "Game over," growled the Gerudo, drawing a dagger from his belt. "So passeth the Hero of Time!" He plunged the blade into Dark's stomach, and the youth lurched forward at the force of the blow. Blood dripped from his mouth and from the fresh wound, and Ganon twisted the dagger, worsening the pain that already racked Dark's body. The evil man laughed, sure he had won, then gagged as the Master Sword was driven into his chest so hard that it went all the way through and poked out the back. He looked at Dark, and saw a nasty grin on his face, blood staining his teeth red, until Ganon's eyes rolled to the back of his head. He slid off Dark's blade as he fell to the floor, and Dark was close in following, falling parallel to the wall as he lost consciousness.
The Moblins restraining Princess Zelda freaked out and ran out of the room, leaving Zelda free to call upon the aid of the Sages. She lifted her arms, palms outward, and faced Ganondorf, calling out with her mind: Sages! Hear my plea! Aid me once more in sealing this villain into the void! Immediately, a great surge of energy surrounded the Princess, who acted as the conductor, and a rush of multi-colored magic roared out from her palms, surrounding Ganondorf and lifting him into the air. He was engulfed in a tornado of color and light, which was consumed in a column of darkness, then disappeared. Zelda wavered on her feet, dizzy from control so much magic at one time, then rushed to help the two fallen heroes.
The next day, Malon was standing in the corral with the horses, enjoying the wind blowing through her hair. Her father and Ingo had gone to the castle to see if they could help clean up from the incident the night before. Shadowmane had come back riderless to the Ranch, and Malon was worried about Dark, but she had to wait until her father came home before she got any answers.
Then she heard a whistling noise, and an arrow landed on a fencepost a feet few away from her. There was something tied to it, and when she took it off, she saw that it was her horse handkerchief, stained with blood. The sight of it struck fear into her heart, and she began to cry, fearing the worst. Then she heard a familiar voice say softly, "Don't cry, Malon. It breaks my heart to see you cry." She looked around, and there was Dark, seated on the wall of the ranch and in perfect health. The healers at the castle knew their trade well.
"Dark!" Malon cried, running over. He jumped down from the wall, and she smothered him in a bear hug. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!" she scolded, squeezing him tight. He hugged her back, and no words could describe how either of them felt to be in each other's arms again.
The End
A/N: Aaaawww, it's over! Hope you guys liked it. This is probably my longest chapter ever! I bet some of you are bugged that Dark ended up being the Hero of Time, and I'm sorry, but that's what happened, and I won't change it.
Anyway, if you wanted to know, Dark and Malon end up getting married and have two kids, a boy and a girl. Dark is pardoned for freeing Ganondorf, since it was an accident and he helped to seal him back into the Void anyway. Link is also fine, and all of Hyrule becomes peaceful again… until the next time Zelda get captured, anyway…
And… that's it! Now go out and do something productive!
Dark: Hypocrite.
Me: … True…